Two hours of life to never get back

When governments get hold of technology they know nothing about, the words time and saving rarely go together.

At a clinic I couldn’t get my Medicare refund transferred through even though earlier in the day elsewhere it happened without a hitch.

I had to go a Medicare/Centrelink office to get the refund or do it on line. Using mygov proved useless. I was able to log on but not link my Medicare and as such received a message saying basically I didn’t exist.

I went to the office instead and after a lengthy wait was given a logon key that overrode everything. It didn’t.

It was beyond the capabilities of the local staff who it must be said were very helpful.

I rang mygov for tech support and they tried to work their magic. What wasn’t magic was the hold music that I endured waiting.

However the mygov techies couldn’t help and I was directed to the Medicare techies.

Similar music but punctuated by suggestions that I could forget the wait by simply logging in on-line. The rub was I simply couldn’t log on.

Eventually I got through and was told that my address was wrong despite me having filled in forms. I also had a different name.

Medicare only use the birth certificate name. So it had to be Gregory rather than Greg. Pretty anal I know.

Same address, same licence number, same date of birth, but apparently two different people.

Databases don’t talk to each other with any useful logic.

I checked my Centrelink account and they had used my preferred name by mistake and it was thought that I would have to cancel my mygov account and start again.

Commons ense prevailed and the error was rectified with a work around by the local Centrelink staff.

I left Centrelink and went home to do my claim on line only to find that the item number could not be done on line and I would have to go back to Centrelink and lodge a form and have a possible six week delay.

Instead I downloaded the Medicare app on my phone and it needed less information but took my claim easily.

I was thinking of making false claims on the app as you don’t need to prove much, but that would be like a politician making fraudulent travel expense claims, wouldn’t it?

I am thinking of creating a machine that actually bills companies for the time you spend waiting on help-lines and call-centres.

I’d apply for government start-up funding, but the 1300 number I called was based in India and their hold music wasn’t much better than the mygov music.

Greg Tuck, Warragul

Careful selection

A big thank you to Don McLean for his thoughtful letter to your page regarding the resignation of the shire chief executive officer. I totally agree with all his comments.

The council now has the opportunity to search for the best possible ceo.

Yes, they may need help, and it will be worth spending a few dollars on assistance to get the best result.

This shire is no longer a rural shire, but it is a growth area and is an attractive position for a ceo. It is vital to make a wise choice as we do not want to go down the same path as Cranbourne and Cardinia Shires, with their “develop at any cost” mentality.

We want and need careful and balanced development, starting with appropriate development of the old factory site in Mason St.

There are many rumours circulating regarding the site, a good development there will bring business into town but a poor development may suck the life out of the cbd as happened in Morwell a few years back.

Last Christmas I attempted to buy only locally, but finally had to give up and go to Fountain Gate for a few items. Let’s see if this can be rectified.

One of the issues facing council in this interim period is the lack of senior staff with knowledge of this community, so many good people were victims of the “staff restructure” that we are left with staff who do their best, but lack the community understanding that come with experience.

It would be very good to see Cr Power take a leading role in the selection process as I believe she has the necessary skills to confront the issue. Ruth McDonald, Drouin

Facts on trader

In response to Ms Grant’s letter (Gazette, January 4), it is a shame she didn’t get a few facts before launching her attack on an “outside” trader.

The person who has a legal permit for roadside trading has been a long term resident of Baw Baw Shire.

She has a registered business in the shire and pays rates and overheads just like Ms Grant.

And how does she know that the lady concerned does not donate to worthy causes.

The fact is, this woman has done way more for her country than most others by serving in Afghanistan in the defence forces. She had to resign because of the mental stress she suffered after seeing some of the atrocities committed during her time in the war zone.

I am sure the shire issued the permit, knowing the lady concerned was a resident of Baw Baw Shire and she was complying with all regulations, and in the end isn’t competition a great thing to ensure one is supplying the best there is to offer at a reasonable price.

Denise Costa, Trafalgar

Compulsory CPR

With the fact that a large number of drownings have already occurred this summer, I heard on Sydney radio a suggestion that I thought deserved a lot of consideration.

It should be mandatory for every pool owner/owners to be trained in CPR and have a certificate.

This, along with proper fencing, would prevent a lot of deaths.

Come to think of it, we should all at least have a basic knowledge of CPR.

I am told there are approxiamately 400 pools in the Baw Baw Shire.

Ian Honey, Nilma

What bird is that?

Residents in Francis Ave, Drouin have been subjected to a strange bird call for several months.

Some residents have been living in the area for more than 20 years and have never heard such a call before.

The bird is very secretive and hides in the canopy high in any tree and is easily spooked. He has now been seen and identified.

It is large – bigger than a magpie and has a red eye and a creamy coloured bill and a distinctive fan like tail. Its colour is predominantly black.

The “sounds of birds” apps confirms the identity as that of an Eastern Koel. Research reveals that an Eastern Koel is rarely seen further south than Mallacoota or Genoa?

Lea Caldwell, Drouin

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